Baguio Speedcubing Open 2023

A mere 0.11 seconds decided the premier title at the Baguio Speedcubing Open 2023, delivering one of the tensest conclusions seen on the local circuit. Karl Matthew Angeles captured the 3x3x3 Cube crown with a final round average of 8.43 seconds, narrowly edging out runner-up Crimson Arradaza who delivered a relentless 8.54 average. Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc completed the podium with a 9.28 average in an 82-competitor bracket that tested endurance across three demanding stages of competition.

Held on August 20, 2023 at SM City Baguio, the one-day WCA competition brought together 86 competitors across eight events and 12 rounds of intense speedcubing. The energetic atmosphere in Baguio City, Philippines highlighted the incredible depth of talent in the national community. While Angeles stood atop the classic 3x3 results, the tight margins in the finals set the stage for an afternoon where every fraction of a second reshaped the standings across all eight featured puzzles.

The 3x3x3 Blindfolded division provided another breathtaking duel that came down to less than four tenths of a second. Gavriel Johann Arcilla secured the victory with a single solve of 59.76 seconds, successfully navigating the memorisation and execution phases to dip under the one-minute barrier. Arradaza was right on his heels once again, logging a swift 1:00.15 single to earn second place, while Jacob Miko Tan finished in third place with a time of 1:21.65 among nine blindfolded solvers.

In the larger puzzles, Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc proved completely dominant across the midday schedule, collecting three distinct titles. Palisoc won the 4x4x4 Cube with a 27.29 average, holding off Richmond Mico Rigor who took second in 32.57 and Dale Palmares in third with 35.58. Palisoc followed up with first place in the 5x5x5 Cube, averaging 51.28 ahead of Rigor at 56.07 and Palmares at 57.86, before sealing a sweep with a 1:35.51 average on the 6x6x6 Cube ahead of Rigor and Christian Naguio.

Naguio claimed his own championship in the massive 7x7x7 Cube contest, recording a winning average of 2:28.98 along with the event fastest single of 2:15.66. Palmares collected another runner-up finish with an average of 2:45.35, while Louie Jay Quibote rounded out the top three in 2:46.09. Meanwhile, the side events brought fast-paced variety to the floor, as Renaud B. Manansala claimed the Clock title with a 6.33 average, outpacing Dimetri De La Rea at 7.07 and Yuji Yoshida at 8.67.

Beyond the championship trophies, the weekend highlighted remarkable personal milestones and significant steps forward across the lineup. Liam Daniele M. Villaflores achieved a massive breakthrough in the traditional Rubik's Cube, dropping his personal best by 51.4 percent down to 22.02 seconds while also posting his first ever official 2x2x2 Cube attempt of 7.14. Denise Jaizy Manegdeg took on four events, setting an improved 3x3x3 mark of 17.37 seconds that was 38.7 percent faster than before, trimming her 2x2x2 best by 17.6 percent to 6.21, and completing her first official Clock solve at 22.59.

Expanding into complex territory, Alvarez Edel entered six events, securing 5th place in the 2x2x2 Cube and logging first-time attempts in the 5x5x5 Cube at 2:09.85, the 6x6x6 Cube at 5:17.87, and Clock at 13.73. Neil Joseph D. Prudencio tackled seven disciplines, placing 6th in 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a debut single of 5:11.88 alongside a 12.6 percent cut to his 6x6x6 best at 2:05.89 and a 5.7 percent drop on 7x7x7 at 3:43.14. Teo Castro posted a 9.60 3x3x3 best, a 3.49 2x2x2 best, and a 1:10.16 4x4x4 debut, while Gina Uy achieved inaugural attempts on 6x6x6 and 7x7x7. Joaquin Caesar Batac Uy shaved 18.5 percent off his 3x3x3 mark to hit 11.04 alongside a 4.10 2x2x2 debut, and Blais Angelo Peligman Dao-anis cut his 3x3x3 personal best by 30.2 percent to 22.46.

The 2x2x2 Cube competition provided its own flurry of rapid turnarounds and competitive depth across two rounds. Yuji Yoshida captured the title with a commanding 2.55 winning average in the final, overcoming strong pressure from Palisoc who posted 3.10 and Angeles who placed third in 3.13. That podium added to a clean sweep of 24 total podium positions earned by competitors representing the Philippines throughout the tournament.

As the tables were packed away at SM City Baguio, the Baguio Speedcubing Open 2023 wrapped up having delivered exceptional drama across every discipline. From the nail-biting eleven-hundredth separation in the main event to the hundreds of personal bests recorded on the floor, the speed cubing competition showcased a vibrant community pushing its limits in every solve, setting a strong benchmark for the rest of the 2023 season.

May 86 na kalahok ang nagtipon sa SM City Baguio noong August 20, 2023 upang magpasiklaban sa bilis at talas ng isip sa paglutas ng iba-ibang mga puzzle. Sa kabuuan ng araw, 12 rounds ang binuno sa walong magkakahiwalay na kategorya sa Baguio Speedcubing Open 2023. Bagamat walang opisyal na Fewest Moves challenge sa listahan ng mga laro ngayon kung saan karaniwang kailangan ang papel at lapis para sa mahinahong pagsusuri, dama pa rin ang matinding konsentrasyon at estratehiya sa bawat mabilisang pag-ikot ng mga kamay sa entablado.

Sa pangunahing 3x3x3 Cube event na dumaan sa tatlong rounds kasama ang 82 competitors, itinanghal na kampeon si Karl Matthew Angeles matapos magtala ng winning average na 8.43 at pinakamabilis na single solve na 6.70. Sumunod sa kanya si Crimson Arradaza na nagrehistro ng 8.54 average, habang pumangatlo naman si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc sa pamamagitan ng kanyang 9.28 average sa naturang Rubik's Cube division.

Bumawi naman nang husto si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc sa iba pang mga dibisyon matapos magdomina sa tatlong big cubes categories sa naturang speedcubing tournament. Naangkin ni Palisoc ang unang puwesto sa 4x4x4 Cube na may 27.29 winning average at 25.65 best single laban sa 50 competitors, kung saan pumangalawa si Richmond Mico Rigor sa 32.57 at pumangatlo si Dale Palmares sa 35.58.

Ipinagpatuloy ni Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc ang kanyang dominasyon sa 5x5x5 Cube nang magtala siya ng 51.28 winning average at 46.48 best single sa 33 competitors, habang sina Richmond Mico Rigor (56.07) at Dale Palmares (57.86) ang sumunod sa podium. Hindi pa doon nagtapos ang kanyang pananalasa dahil kinuha rin niya ang kampeonato sa 6x6x6 Cube bitbit ang 1:35.51 winning average at 1:20.74 single laban sa 22 competitors, habang pumangalawa si Rigor (1:40.92) at pumangatlo si Christian Naguio (1:41.82).

Sa pinakamalaking puzzle ng torneyo na 7x7x7 Cube, naging kampeon si Christian Naguio na naglista ng 2:28.98 winning average at 2:15.66 best single laban sa 20 competitors, kasunod sina Dale Palmares (2:45.35) at Louie Jay Quibote (2:46.09). Samantala, sa 2x2x2 Cube na may dalawang rounds at 60 kalahok, nagwagi si Yuji Yoshida sa kanyang 2.55 winning average, habang pumangalawa si Inigo Miguel B. Palisoc (3.10) at pumangatlo si Karl Matthew Angeles (3.13).

Sa likod ng mga nangungunang puwesto sa cubing competition na ito, nagpakitang-gilas ang maraming kalahok na gumawa ng sarili nilang mga marka. Malaking pagsulong ang naitala ni Daphne Sharynna S. Taan sa 2x2x2 Cube kung saan ang kanyang personal best na 5.29 ay 42.8 porsiyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa dating 9.25, bukod pa sa 14.20 sa 3x3x3 Cube na 36.6 porsiyentong mas mabilis sa dating 22.39. Malaking pag-angat din ang pinatunayan ni Ethan Z-Jon B. Potpotan nang magtala ng personal best na 1:17.11 sa 5x5x5 Cube mula sa dating 1:29.67 na 14 porsiyentong mas mabilis, kasabay ng 10.56 personal best sa 3x3x3 Cube na 5.8 porsiyentong mas mabilis kaysa sa 11.21.

Maraming debut at unang subok din ang nasaksihan sa torneo. Sa kanyang unang WCA competition, sumabak sa tatlong kategorya si Steven Wu at nakakuha ng best finish na ika-12 sa 3x3x3 Cube na may 7.56 single, 1:32.91 sa 5x5x5 Cube, at 48.42 sa 4x4x4 Cube. Unang kompetisyon din ito para kay Lorenzo Mercado na sumalang sa tatlong events kabilang ang 2:16.79 sa 5x5x5 Cube, 16.40 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at 1:05.77 sa 4x4x4 Cube. Ganoon din si Niko Jose Palengaoan-Dela Cruz na nagtala ng 13.36 sa 2x2x2 Cube, 26.46 sa Clock, at 39.62 sa 3x3x3 Cube, at si Alexander Miguel Sison Echiverre na nagtala ng 21.60 sa 3x3x3 Cube, 6.33 sa 2x2x2 Cube, at 1:40.19 sa 4x4x4 Cube. Samantala, matagumpay na sumabak sa unang pagkakataon si Ivan Carlo Joaquin sa 5x5x5 Cube na may 2:07.04 bukod sa kanyang 12.41 personal best sa 3x3x3 Cube, habang si Laurence Mark G. Colis ay nagtala ng personal best na 6.08 sa 2x2x2 Cube at 1:03.64 sa 4x4x4 Cube.

Naging kapana-panabik din ang iba pang kategorya bago tuluyang magtapos ang torneo. Sa Clock event na nilahukan ng 19 competitors sa dalawang rounds, nangibabaw si Renaud B. Manansala sa winning average na 6.33, kasunod sina Dimetri De La Rea (7.07) at Yuji Yoshida (8.67). Sa 3x3x3 Blindfolded naman na humingi ng matinding memorya mula sa siyam na kalahok, nagkampeon si Gavriel Johann Arcilla sa pamamagitan ng 59.76 best single, habang sumunod sina Crimson Arradaza (1:00.15) at Jacob Miko Tan (1:21.65).

Lahat ng 24 na podium finishes sa naturang paligsahan ay nakuha ng mga kinatawan mula sa Pilipinas, patunay sa galing ng mga manlalaro sa sariling bansa. Matagumpay na naisara ang Baguio Speedcubing Open 2023 sa Baguio City, Philippines, na nag-iwan ng magagandang alaala at panibagong inspirasyon para sa mga susunod pang laban sa larangan.